Dear Friends,
Wait a second! Didn’t we just turn a page on the calendar five minutes ago, or am I delirious from the heat? Maybe both?
Remember when talking about the weather was a safe subject? People may not want to acknowledge climate change, but guess what kids? The climate is changing every single day. Call it whatever you want but it seems as if the weather people can’t seem to get a handle on it either. From where I am sitting, I can tell you the summers are getting hotter, starting sooner, and are relentless. We used to call them “sultry,” and I could sit in my rocker on my porch and enjoy a cold bottle of Coca Cola. Today? Nope. It’s close to one-hundred degrees and the humidity could steam the wrinkles out of a linen suit.
And it’s not just the weather that is extreme. Anxiety levels are at their peak. There seems to be a new thing to fret about every day. My advice? Don’t get your panties in a knot over little annoyances, like the guy at the head of the line at the drug store who wants to discuss his ingrown toenail with the pharmacist. Use that time to think about all the things you can be grateful for, including the fact that the guy will eventually pay for his Fungi Nail and get the heck out of there. Or, you can try thought balloons. Like in the cartoons. Sometimes I laugh out loud at what’s going through my head and then everyone around me takes a few steps back. Gives me a little more elbow room.
My point is, try to stay positive, and focus on the things you can actually control. In the words of Mark Twain, ‘Worrying is like paying a debt you don’t owe.”
Be kind even if you want to choke the living heck out of the idiot who left his shopping cart in the middle of the parking lot, or the obnoxious guy in the fancy car who just cut you off. As long as nobody got hurt, you’re having a good day.
Often it’s the little things that make the biggest difference. Say hello to the guy in the produce section. Ask him what looks good this week? Even if you don’t care, you will make him feel important, and everyone wants a taste of that: acknowledgement. I was walking to my car the other day and a woman was walking toward me. I said, “Good morning.” Suddenly her face lit up and she returned the greeting. I went on to tell her I liked her outfit (which I actually did.) She was beaming. I’d like to think I made her day, or at least her morning until she got behind the guy in the pharmacy. LOL. Pay it forward my friends.
I want to thank you for your kind words and messages. It means the world to me that after all the years I’ve been writing, I can still reach people’s hearts, minds, and souls. So, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
On to books. If you haven’t read ON THE LINE yet, I hope you will give it a try. There was a wonderful wine and food tasting to honor the paperback release, and the proceeds went to World Central Kitchen, which is ‘central” to the story. There were lots of requests for extra copies for people to feature it in their “Little Free Library.” Now that is definitely a thing, started by an organization with a mission to build community, inspire readers, and expand book access. If you have the desire to find out more you can go to their website, https://littlefreelibrary.org/ or you can buy a kit on-line.
This month’s contest will be:
1st prize ON THE LINE and 4 additional books in tote bag; second and third prize will get a copy of ON THE LINE
Wishing you a happy and peaceful month.
All the best,
Fern